Cantilever deck form



Oct. 24, 1967 M. w. DEASON CANTILEVER DECK FORM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1965 INVENTOR.

MAX W. DEASON ATTORNEYS Oct. 24, 1967 M. w. DEASON 3,348,801

CANTILEVER DECK FORM Filed Aug. 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MAX W. DEASON ATTORNEYS United States Patent ()fifice 3,343,861 Patented Oct. 24, 1967 3,348,801 CANTILEVER DECK FORM Max W. Deason, 3242 N. Erma, Tucson, Ariz. 85795 Filed Aug. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 483,563 6 Claims. (Cl. 249-19) The present invention pertains to concrete form apparatus, and more particularly, to apparatus particularly suited for the formation of cantilever decks on swimming pools.

Present-day swimming pool construction techniques usually call for the utilization of a deck having coping comprising tile cemented in place. The coping frequently, in addition to being expensive, is a source of difiiculty after the pool has been installed for some length of time. The joints between the respective tile portions of the coping emit water under the compression of the weight of the pool and concrete causing expanding soil problems which sometimes result in cracking and general deterioration of the pool installation. The labor involved in laying coping is also a major source of the cost of the installation of private swimming pools as Well as being a source of difficulty. The utilization of concrete decks has heretofore been a nearly impossible accomplishment in view of the complexity involved with prior art forming techniques. Specifically, the utilization of a cantilever or overhanging deck has practically been impossible in view of the great complexity involved with the prior art deck forms especially when a complex shape such as a free-form pool is used.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a deck form suitable for use in the installation of a cantiliver deck on a swimming pool.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cantiliver deck form that may readily be installed and removed after the concrete has set and may be reused enumerable times.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cantilever-deck form that may be used regardless of the curvature or form of the pool to provide an overhanging deck to eliminate the cost and problems concomitant with the utilization of coping.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds.

Briefly, in accordance with the embodiment chosen for illustration, the present invention contemplates the utilization of a semirigid band material, such as mild steel, to which is bonded or otherwise secured a neoprene plastic form having a generally L-shaped cross-section. The concrete form is secured in an appropriate location and position on the job by a unique combination of anchor and bracket locks which secure the form in place and permit the concrete to be poured. When the concrete is appropriately set, the form may readily be removed and, because of its resilient materials, will resume its originally straight shape and may be used again and again regardless of the shape to which it is formed during the deck installation.

The present invention may more readily be described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cantilever deck form constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention showing the deck form in place.

FIGURE 2 is a crosssectional view of FIGURE 1 taken along line 2-2.

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the cantilever deck form of the present invention on a somewhat enlarged scale.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the cantilever deck form of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 3 taken along lines 55.

Referring to the drawings, the cantilever deck form of the present invention utilizes a steel band 10 that is flexible in the plane perpendicular to the broad fiat surface of the band to enable the form to conform to the shape of the swimming pool. A neoprene rubber extruded molding 11 is bonded to one side of the band 10 and has a cross-section generally L-shaped. The specific shape of the extrusion may, of course, vary to a considerable extent; however, it has been found that the curvatures shown for the cross-section of the extrusion have been particularly suited for deck structures providing smooth surfaces while nevertheless providing a maximum of strength. The combination of the flexible steel band 10 and neoprene extrusion 11 are secured in place by a unique combination of an anchor 15 and a vertical bracket 16. The anchor 15 comprises a generally flat narrow metal strip having a shoulder 20 that, when in position, engages one edge 17 of the band 10 and thereby positions the band in a horizontal plane. The anchor also includes a locking notch 21 that is used to lock the anchor to the vertical bracket as will be explained more fully hereinafter. The anchor also includes a nail hole 22 for receiving a nail to thereby secure the anchor in an appropriate location prior to its being locked in the concrete pouring position. A score notch 23 is also provided on each anchor to enable the anchor to be broken ofi after the concrete has been poured and set to enable the removal of the deck form apparatus without injuring the concrete.

The vertical bracket 16 comprises a generally U-shaped cross-section elongated member having an opening 30 to receive an anchor, and also having a pair of opposing openings 31 and 32 to receive a wedge lock 34 which, as may specifically be seen in FIGURE 5, engages the locking notch 21 of the anchor. A nail hole 35 permits the vertical bracket to be positioned prior to its locking to the anchor the extrusion 11 prior to pouring the concrete. The vertical bracket also includes a hook-shaped upper end 37 that conveniently engages the upper edge 38 of the band 11 to enable the band to firmly be clamped in a specific horizontal position as well as vertical position by the combined anchor and vertical bracket.

The operation of the present invention may be described as follows: after the pool Walls and lip to the walls have been poured and the concrete has set, the vertical position of the vertical brackets are determined by appropriately laying out a line a given distance below the lip of the pool wall. The anchors are then each positioned by nailing each anchor to the lip of the concrete and extending outwardly into the pool area through the opening 30 in each of the brackets. The band 10' with the extrusion 11 bonded thereto is then placed in a manner to conform to the shape of the pool and is locked between the hook portion of the vertical bracket and the shoulder of the anchors. The anchors and vertical brackets are secured to each other through the utilization of wedge locks forced through the openings 31 and 32 in the vertical brackets and engaging the locking notches 21 of each of the anchors. The concrete may then be poured up to the extrusion 11 and appropriately sloped downwardly toward the pool so that there will be drainage into the pool from the deck. When the concrete has set, the deck form may be removed simply by unlocking each of the wedge locks and removing the vertical brackets. The anchors, having been locked in place by the concrete, may readily be broken off at their respective score marks 23 simply by bending to insure proper horizontal alignment forthe anchors upwardly and downwardly. The resulting structure is a unitary concrete pool lip or deck sloping gradually toward the pool and having a continuous surface presenting no cracks or joints, such as is common in coping, to permit the seepage of water to thereby affect the pool as previously described.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof; it is therefore intended that the present invention be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A cantilever deck form comprising: a band of semirigid material; a flexible member having a cross-section of generally L-shape, and having one leg of said L secured to said band; an anchor member secured in a substantially horizontal position in supporting contact with the other leg of said L; and a support bracket secured in a substantially vertical plane in supporting contact with said anchor.

2. A cantilever deck form comprising: a band of semirigid material; an extruded flexible plastic member having a cross-section of generally L-shape and having one leg of said L secured to said band; an anchor member secured in a substantially horizontal position in supporting contact with the other leg of said L; and a support bracket secured in a substantially vertical plane in supporting contact with said anchor.

3. A cantilever deck form comprising: a band of semirigid material; an extruded flexible plastic member having a cross-section of generally L-shape and having one leg of said L secured to said band; an anchor member comprising a flat elongated metal strip having a shoulder formed therein, said anchor secured in a substantially horizontal position in supporting contact with the other leg of said L and having the shoulder thereof in contact with an edge of said band; and a support bracket secured in a substantially vertical plane in supporting contact with said anchor.

4. A cantilever deck form comprising: a band of semirigid material; an extruded flexible plastic member having a cross-section of generally L-shape and having one leg of said L secured to said band; an anchor member comprising a flat elongated metal strip having a shoulder formed therein, said anchor secured in a substantially horizontal position in supporting contact with the other leg of said L and having the shoulder thereof in contact with an edge of said band; a support bracket secured in a substantially vertical plane, said bracket having a U-shaped crosssection with openings therein to receive said anchor member and a locking wedge which are in contact with each other to lock said bracket and anchor member together.

5. A cantiliver deck form comprising: a band of semirigid material; an extruded flexible plastic member having a cross-section of generally L-shape, and having one leg of said L secured to said band; an anchor member comprising a flat, elongated metal strip having a shoulder formed therein and having an off-set notch therein, said anchor secured in a substantially horizontal position in supporting contact with the other leg of said L and having the shoulder thereof in contact with an edge of said band; and a support bracket secured in a substantially vertical plane, said bracket having a U-shaped cross-section with openings therein to receive said anchor member and a locking wedge which are in contact with each other, said locking wedge engaging said off-set notch to lock said bracket and anchor member together.

6. A cantilever deck form comprising: a band of semirigid material; a flexible member having a cross-section of generally L-shape, and having one leg of said L secured to said band; an anchor member secured in a substantially horizontal position in supporting contact with the other leg of said L; and a support bracket secured in a substantially vertical plane, said bracket having a U- shaped cross-section with openings therein to receive said anchor member and a locking wedge which are in contact with each other to lock said bracket and anchor mem ber together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,383,837 7/1921 Milnes 249 207 2,729,093 1/ 1956 Ridley.

2,873,505 2/1959 Sheldon.

3,016,225 1/1962 Hughes et al 249-207 3,206,823 9/ 1965 Walter.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,215,354 11/1959 France.

550,078 12/ 1942 Great Britain.

WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CANTILEVER DECK FORM COMPRISING; A BAND OF SEMIRIGID MATERIAL; A FLEXIBLE MEMBER HAVING A CROSS-SECTION OF GENERALLY L-SHAPE, AND HAVING ONE LEG OF SAID L SECURED TO SAID BAND; AN ANCHOR MEMBER SECURED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION IN SUPPORTING CONTACT WITH THE OTHER LEG OF SAID L; AND A SUPPORT BRACKET SECURED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL PLANE IN SUPPORTING CONTACT WITH SAID ANCHOR. 